PACE calls on governments to 'take all reasonable measures' to reduce exposure to electromagnetic fields, etc

PACE calls on governments to 'take all reasonable measures' to reduce exposure to electromagnetic fields

Strasbourg, 27.05.2011  The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), meeting in Kyiv at Standing Committee level, today called on European governments to "take all reasonable measures" to reduce exposure to electromagnetic fields, especially to radio frequencies from mobile phones, "and particularly the exposure to children and young people who seem to be most at risk from head tumours".

According to parliamentarians, governments should "for children in general, and particularly in schools and classrooms, give preference to wired Internet connections, and strictly regulate the use of mobile phones by schoolchildren on school premises", and put in place information and awareness-raising campaigns on the risks of potentially harmful long-term biological effects on the environment and on human health, especially "targeting children, teenagers and young people of reproductive age".

Following the proposals of the rapporteur (Jean Huss, Luxembourg, SOC), the Assembly called on governments to provide information on potential health risks of DECT-type wireless telephones, baby monitors and other domestic appliances which emit continuous pulse waves, if all electrical equipment is left permanently on standby. They should, instead, recommend "the use of wired, fixed telephones at home or, failing that, models which do not permanently emit pulse waves".

Governments should "reconsider the scientific basis for the present electromagnetic fields exposure standards set by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection, "which have serious limitations" and apply as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) principles.

The adopted resolution underlines the fact that "the precautionary principle should be applicable when scientific evaluation does not allow the risk to be determined with sufficient certainty" and stresses that "the issue of independence and credibility of scientific expertise is crucial" to achieve a transparent and balanced assessment of potential negative impacts on the environment and human health.

The Assembly brings together 318 members from the national parliaments of the 47 member states. President: Mevlüt Çavusoglu (Turkey, EDG) - Secretary General of the Assembly: Wojciech Sawicki. Political groups: EPP/CD (Group of the European People's Party); SOC (Socialist Group); EDG (European Democrat Group); ALDE (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe); UEL (Group of the Unified European Left).

Radiation from Hydro's Smart Meters may be too dangerous

A wireless Smart Meter (SM), the type mandated for all BC Hydro customers, emits one hundred times the radiation of a cellphone.

That's the conclusion of nuclear expert, Daniel Hirsch, after finding flaws in a report to the California legislature which claimed Smart Meter radiation is 100 times less.

The report hadn't accounted for the whole body, 24/7 radiation of an SM compared to the head directed, relatively infrequent radiation from a cellphone.

Although SMs are too new to form definitive conclusions regarding their long-term risk, data from several studies show about twice the risk of a rare kind of brain tumour in those who've used a cellphone half an hour a day for 10 years.

These tumours normally take 40 years to develop.

To avoid health risks, security breaches and high costs of upkeep, The Citizens for Safe Technology advocate wired SMs.

Susan Fletcher, Sechelt

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We weren't planning to send you another e-mail about the IARC meeting so soon, but the newsfrom Lyon is too important not to pass on.

The link between cell phones and cancer just got stronger. Two important Interphone papershave been given to the IARC RF panel --in the nick of time.

Reed Passes Cell Tower Bill: Onward to the Senate

The bill passed with overwhelming support.

HB 6250 also allows the Siting Council to seek legal action should a party in the proceedings intentionally omit or misrepresent a material fact during the proceedings. This legal action can include injunction relief and a fine of up to $10,000 plus attorneys fees.

We just purchased a new Bosch washer and dryer - for delivery next week.

Sam Milham happened to call this morning and said the following:

"I've just tested a home with an oven and dishwasher that had continuously radiating RF from internal

power transmitters". He could verify the RF signal was continuous, and only stopped when he threw

the circuit breakers for those appliances (turned off the electricity to them). He could say with certainty

the RF signal came from the appliances, because the signal was strongest at the appliance and attenuated

with distance.

We have been told that these power transmitters will - in the future - be placed on appliances to monitor

and report their energy usage to a wireless smart meter. Further, they should only be giving off RF pulses

(the signal) very infrequently.

According to Richard Tell, an electrical engineer formerly with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) -- in a 2008 report on Smart Grids for Hydro One Networks, Inc./Toronto -- antennas on appliances may transmit at a density of .18watts, each at ballpark 4.5 seconds per hour.

Well, these appliance power transmitters are, in at least some cases, transmitting CONTINUOUSLY. This puts them into a category

more like wireless routers and WI-FI. No one is going to tolerate 12-15 such power transmitters inside their homes that radiate

full time. These are appliances you come into close contact with while you cook and move around your kitchen. Multiple, continuously

transmitting RF sources are absolutely unacceptable to people with EHS and some ADA people with medical implants.

Bosch customer service confirmed that both the washer and dryer we have on order contain power transmitters.

They cannot be 'deactivated'. We cancelled our order this morning.

Imagine every one of these power transmitters is an 'energy vampire' chewing up electricity you have to pay for,

while that damnable smart meter system is inflicted on you, at your own cost.

The impossible has happened. After about seven months of fierce opposition by residents of both Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam, by the PAC of Coquitlam River Elementary, and by the school board 43 itself, Rogers formally withdrew their application.It was announced during a regular council meeting on Tuesday, May 24th. A letter from Rogers was read by the mayor Greg Moore. When he finished reading, at first, there was silence as people were shocked with disbelief. And then the room, attended by about 70 people, erupted into a raucous applause and cheers that lasted quite a while. The audience was quite simply stunned.

"We certainly did not expect this. We were hoping for this, but we did not expect it. The city staff and most of the council certainly gave every indication they were in favour of the tower and saw little problem with it. As late as this morning most of us thought we have lost this battle" exclaimed Peter Endisch, one of the organizers of the opposition and director with Citizens for Safe Technology.

The tower was originally proposed for the Terry Fox Cemetery. That proposal was withdrawn because residents felt it would desecrate the memory of Terry Fox, who died of cancer and many peer reviewed research papers indicate the possibility of several cancers from low level, non-ionizing radiation, such as microwaves emitted by cell towers. The irony was that a year later, Rogers came back with a new proposal, this time in a park, despite Port Coquitlam's clear bylaws citing prohibition of such installations in parks. This time, the tower would affect less the dead but more so the living, and especially the young ones, since the tower would be situated 120m from Coquitlam River Elementary and around 500m from Irving Elementary schools. Many felt that the city gave unprecedented access to Rogers and that the staff and most of the council were very dismissive of health issues and even their own bylaws. In fact, Poco council and staff went out of their way to try to convince the public that their own bylaws didn't apply for the city owned park. Not so, said Industry Canada whom the opposition contacted and forwarded the correspondence to the city. Yet the city remained unconvinced.

Citizens were undeterred and decided to fight back. They gathered close to 500 signatures for their petition opposing the tower and canvassed both Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam near where the tower would be situated. They wrote letters, phoned the council, talked to neighbours, organized parties and information sessions for the public. Port Coquitlam council then agreed to hold a public meeting, although they were not required to do so. That was certainly a step in the right direction. On May 9th, the council chambers were packed with people voicing their concerns over the situation of the tower. Then on May 19th, citizens organized a rally in front of the city hall. The rally was attended by children, parents, grand parents and other concerned citizens.

Council also announced they will start work on a new telecommunication policy that will guide them in the future on where the city would allow cell towers be situated. The mayor thanked the community for expressing their concerns and urged them to work with the city in crafting the new policy."We are certainly pleased that the council has decided to work on a new policy. It is a chance to do things right, like the city of Delta did last week, banning cell towers on all public properties and near residences. We will certainly be watching vigilantly and be involved in the process." said Peter Endisch. "However tonight is time to celebrate. We congratulate Rogers for listening to the community concerns and withdrawing their application".

There has been a series of cell tower proposals defeated by activists and local residents around lower mainland and on Vancouver island just in past few months. Also across Canada, notably in Ontario and in Montreal. This is certainly not the last tower to see residents band together to fight against. The Greenmount Park cell tower proposal opposition has been citizen driven with support from the Tricity Green Council and Citizens For Safe Technology, as well as other organizations from lower mainland.

Sex, Lives and Smartphones

Mobile devices have become virtual extensions of ourselves and they reach into every area of our lives. So what does this constant connectivity do to the brain? Ioanna Roumeliotis finds out by speaking to scientists who have been studying the effects of communication devices on brains in development.

WEEP News

by: Martin Weatherall

As a Canadian independent foundation, WEEP acts as an umbrella organization and focuses on progressive initiatives that bring increased awareness, policy change, and entrepreneurial activity around the issues of safe Electro Magnetic emissions.

WEEP News is a service provided by WEEP to keep those interested in and affected by Wireless, Electric, & Electromagnetic Pollution, informed on a daily basis, of all the current issues and initiatives in the world today.